Wrestling
WWE 2K Story – Chapter Four, Part Two: The Emperor’s Arrival
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Smackdown Live
Charlotte Flair comes out to the ring to a huge ovation. A ‘we did miss you’ chant starts across the arena as Charlotte begins to blush and smile. She thanks everyone for all the support she got when injured, but says she never missed an episode of WWE TV. Charlotte says she has been keeping an eye on things, and worries about the Smackdown Women’s Championship being in the wrong hands of Natalya. Charlotte says she will get her championship match against Natalya soon, and that she loved holding that belt a week ago. She admits the strange feeling when holding the belt, what she calls ‘static electricity’.
WWE Smackdown Women’s champion Natalya interrupts and says Charlotte doesn’t deserve a championship match, and that Money in the Bank is already booked. Charlotte suggests they fight tonight! Vince McMahon interrupts, with Jinder Mahal by his side. Vince tells Charlotte he respects her and her family’s legacy, so he will put her in a battle royal tonight where the winner will face Natalya for her Smackdown Women’s Championship at Battleground in two weeks. Natalya is not happy as Vince struts off stage, with Charlotte smiling from the ring.
NORMAL TAG TEAM MATCH
The Bar vs. WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champion American Alpha
Objective: Win with The Bar
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion The New Day comes out on stage clapping. They are suddenly attacked by The Usos, who make a b-line for the ring. They enter the ring and just look at The Bar, before beginning an assault on American Alpha. The Bar doesn’t help, instead, leave American Alpha to suffer. Boos are loudly heard, and directed at both The Bar and The Usos. The Bar pass New Day on stage, who is laid out. The Bar begins to attack The New Day, as Cesaro hits a Neutralizer onto Xavier Woods – denting the stage.
In the backstage office, Vince asks Mahal to search the arena for Goldust. Mahal does as he is asked and leaves. Triple H & Stephanie enter the office, saying Vince has done a pretty good job so far but they still need to add one more person to Sunday’s Money in the Bank Match. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan walks in and asks for a match against Big Show or Ziggler tonight. Vince says that Daniel Bryan will fight tonight, but not Big Show or Dolph. He says that he owes a certain group of people a favor, revealing Daniel Bryan will face one of those people tonight. Bryan agrees, saying he just wants to get some frustration out. He leaves as Vince tells Triple H that if Daniel Bryan’s opponent wins tonight, he will be the final entry into Money in the Bank.
6-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins vs. WWE Universal Champion Sami Zayn, WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens & Big Show
Objective: Win with Reigns, Ambrose & Rollins
Finn Balor and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Johnny Gargano are backstage talking strategy, revealing they have a handicap match tonight. Titus O’Neil strolls by saying his Titus Brand will destroy them tonight, hoping that will help them sign Bobby Roode. Titus tells Finn he’s lucky Roode got into his championship match, otherwise Darren Young would embarrass him again. Finn tells Titus that Roode made a mistake by entering himself into the match. Titus admits he wasn’t happy Roode got added either but claims Vince gave him a Money in the Bank qualifying match against Daniel Bryan. O’Neil walks off pleased as Balor and Gargano look back in disgust.
6-WOMAN BATTLE ROYAL
Charlotte Flair vs. Naomi vs. Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks
Objective: Win with Charlotte Flair
Titus O’Neil is walking backstage as the lights suddenly go out. They begin flickering on and off, as a sheep mask that O’Neil doesn’t notice slowly approaches from behind. The lights finally go out and stay out. A noise is heard as if someone is struggling.
TWO-ON-THREE HANDICAP MATCH
Finn Balor & WWE Cruiserweight Champion Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa, WWE Intercontinental Champion Darren Young & Bobby Roode
Objective: Win with Ciampa, Young & Roode
Jinder Mahal is walking around backstage looking for Goldust. He stops and he sees Titus O’Neil, beaten up and tied to a forklift upside down. Jinder laughs and continues walking. Goldust’s eyes are seen watching from behind a bunch of stacked wooden palates.
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan heads to the ring for his match, watching the Titus Brand help their leader from the forklift on the big screen. Suddenly, Braun Strowman’s music hits! The monster among men heads to the ring, seemingly replacing Titus O’Neil in the qualifying match.
MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING MATCH (turn entrance OFF)
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Braun Strowman
Objective: Win with Strowman
The lights turn on and off as Strowman is gone. The Wyatt’s appear on the big screen though, as Bray Wyatt is extremely giddy. He praises his brothers Rowan and Strowman for making it into the Money in the Bank match, claiming the devil has kept his promise. Bray reveals that he himself is still owed a reward by the devil for his attacks on Undertaker, Kane, The Shield, etc… Wyatt claims the devil is a man of his word, revealing that both he and Luke Harper will be part of Daniel Bryan’s ‘journey’ on Sunday.
Bray laughs at Daniel, asking how he’ll survive not three, but now five other animals who want what he has? Bray reveals to Daniel because there is now six competitors, their match at Money in the Bank will be a Ladder Match! Wyatt warns Daniel that he should leave WWE to be with his new wife and child, otherwise he may not survive past Money in the Bank. Bray advises Daniel should… RUN!
Money in the Bank
Fireworks go off as ring commentators Cole, Graves & Saxton welcome everyone to Money in the Bank!
LADDER MATCH – WWE Cruiserweight Championship
(C) Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa
Objective: Win with Ciampa
The Titus Brand is backstage, celebrating Ciampa’s win. Titus is not happy The Wyatt’s jumped him to take his Money in the Bank opportunity but feels that’s a fight he can’t win. WWE Intercontinental Champion Darren Young tells Titus they should focus on his match, but O’Neil wants to recruit Roode to the Titus Brand. Young says he won’t lose his belt just to give Titus another client. Young walks off as Titus looks back uncertain.
FATAL-4-WAY MATCH – WWE Raw Women’s Championship
(C) Asuka vs. Nia Jax vs Tamina vs. Alexa Bliss
Objective: Win with Asuka
After the match, a frustrated Bliss blames both Nia & Tamina. Bliss slaps them both, which results in her getting flattened by Tamina & Nia.
It’s Electric!
Backstage, Becky Lynch is watching with Naomi and Mickie James as the three begin to laugh at Bliss. Charlotte Flair walks by and hugs them, saying she’s glad they are alright in this weird era they are wrestling in. Becky mentions to Mickie that Charlotte felt a sharp zap of electricity when she held Natalya’s belt, just as James did.
Charlotte asks Mickie if that’s true? Mickie says at first she thought it was static electricity but lightning rarely strikes the same spot twice. Charlotte asks Mickie if she thinks it has something to do with random WWE items having mystical powers (which she laughs at in disbelief)? Mickie says she’s not sure but doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that they both felt an electric shock when they touched Natalya’s belt.
NORMAL TAG TEAM MATCH – WWE Raw Tag Team Championship
(C) The New Day vs. The Bar
Objective: Win with The Bar
Vince McMahon is watching backstage, seemingly satisfied with what he just saw. Jinder Mahal walks in and says he can’t find Goldust. Vince says it’s not Jinder’s fault, and that Jinder should go prepare for his big match tonight. He remarks that his company and Jinder’s country have big investments in the future, so Vince wants Jinder to make him proud. Jinder bows and leaves as Triple H and Stephanie McMahon walk in, with Jinder seemingly bumping into Hunter’s shoulder on purpose. Vince asks them where Undertaker’s Urn is?
Triple H says somewhere safe, but Vince wants specifics. He reminds them that he is their boss and asks them to not take him stupid. Stephanie says she will go get the urn and leaves. Triple H asks Vince if he’s happy to be back which Vince admits he is not. Vince tells Triple H he put him in charge for a reason, and that he considers his own presence a failure for his son-in-law. Triple H admits things have been shaky, but Vince threw him into weird and uncharted waters. Vince tells Hunter he knew exactly what he signed up for, and he expected more from his son-in-law.
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH – WWE Intercontinental Championship
(C) Darren Young vs. Finn Balor vs. Bobby Roode
Objective: Win with Roode
John Cena enters a locker room where The Shield is. Roman Reigns says he’s going to prepare for his match mentality and leaves. Cena thinks it’s odd that the Wyatt Family were added to the WWE Championship match along with the Money in the Bank match since only Vince has match-making power now. Rollins believes that perhaps the ‘devil’ Bray speaks about so much is actually Vince and not Triple H. Ambrose doesn’t buy it, saying that Vince just arrived and Bray has been doing the ‘devils’ bidding for much longer.
The Devil’s Tricks
John tells Ambrose that he’s been around for a while and two things have been consistent. The first is that anything in WWE can happen. The second is that Vince McMahon has a power within the company that many can’t see. Rollins says he has been involved first hand with the McMahon’s and their schemes, and truly believes Vince has another agenda on his mind. Ambrose suggests one of them win the briefcase tonight, that way they have a little advantage over the McMahons. Cena is still gun hoe on finding Shane, but The Shield remind him that’s almost impossible at this point.
TAG TEAM LADDER MATCH – WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship
(C) American Alpha vs. The Usos
Objective: Win with The Usos
Renee Young interviews Dolph Ziggler backstage about the WWE Championship Match. He is quickly interrupted by the Big Show, as the two still clearly have a beef with one another. Jinder Mahal approaches them both and is booed loudly in the arena. Mahal iterates that they must work as a team for one common goal of making the WWE a better place. Jinder insists that they help HIM win because Vince wants to corner the India wrestling market. Ziggler walks away laughing as Big Show says that he serves Stephanie and Triple H (per the contract he signed), not Vince. Big Show walks off as Jinder looks on angrily.
NORMAL MATCH – WWE Universal Championship
(C) Sami Zayn vs. Roman Reigns
Objective: Win with Roman Reigns
WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens is watching in Vince’s office and he is not happy. He says he should’ve been by his friend’s side, and accepts a rematch at Battleground on behalf of Sami. Kevin leaves frustrated as Triple H tells Vince he loves that kid. Vince believes Kevin is unpredictable and very combustible. He questions Hunter’s judgment, and asks if he will need to hold his hand the entire time? Triple H doesn’t understand, saying Kevin Owens is just like him when he was younger. Vince says that’s exactly the problem. Kevin is smarter than many and when he figures out what’s going on…
Vince is interrupted by AJ Styles, who asks where The Usos are? He claims he has no idea, as AJ is pissed that Jimmy and Jey left his good brothers Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows in a different time period. AJ wants to fight them. Vince says not tonight, but possibly on Raw. AJ points at Triple H, saying it’s his fault before leaving. Vince looks at Triple H unimpressed, as Hunter seems guilty.
6-MAN MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH
John Cena vs. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose vs. WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens vs. Erick Rowan vs. Braun Strowman
Objective: Win with Braun Strowman
Stephanie walks into the backstage office, as Vince reveals Triple H went to the restroom. He asks his daughter if she has the urn, which she pulls out. Vince is very happy and tells Stephanie to stay strong and remember the plan.
6-MAN LADDER MATCH – WWE Championship
(C) Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Jinder Mahal
Objective: Win with Jinder Mahal
Mahal celebrates on top of the ladder as everyone is laid out around the ring.
Family Matters
The camera shows the backstage office, where Triple H is watching the match with Vince. He congratulates Vince for Mahal’s victory and says maybe Vince should stick around after all. Stephanie enters the room and kisses Hunter, saying she is sorry. Triple H says for what? He is suddenly sucked into Undertaker’s Urn! Stephanie screams as Vince is seen holding the urn. Stephanie is clearly not happy and begins to start crying.
Vince hugs her and tells her it’s only temporary until they get what they want. He convinces Stephanie Hunter was becoming unreliable and reckless. Vince claims every decision Hunter made dug them into a deeper hole, and further away from what they wanted to accomplish. He reveals he put both Triple H and Stephanie in charge to begin with, and the only reason he is back is that the Board of Directors grew suspicious. She says she understands and asks her father to hurry up with his plan so she can bring her husband back. Vince hugs his daughter and says, ‘of course sweetheart,’ before letting off a big and evil grin.
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Photo Credit: WWE via WWE.com
